Blogs
Direct Digital Outputs for Precise Sensor Measurement Without Programming
MTI’s Digital Accumeasure converts highly reliable capacitive electric field measurements into highly precise 24-bit digital readings. This digital capacitance displacement gauge interfaces with DASYLab, data acquisition (DAQ) software from Measurement Computing with tools and functions for application development without programming. By interfacing MTI’s Digital Accumeasure with DASYLab, you can get precise sensor measurements without sacrificing speed, reliability, or ease-of-use. The Digital Accumeasure connects to DASYLab through a Modbus interface. Because MTI’s precision measurement technology has direct digital outputs, you can directly import digital displacement values instead of lower-resolutions analog values. In other words, instead of converting measurements to analog [...]
Industry 4.0 for Test and Measurement
Industry 4.0 promises greater integration, interoperability, and information exchange. This Fourth Wave of the Industrial Revolution isn’t about a single technology such as machine learning. It’s not just about artificial intelligence (AI) or Big Data either. Rather, Industry 4.0 is a family of connected technologies that will enable industry to collect, analyze, and act upon massive amounts of diverse and distributed data. Smart sensors for precise test and measurement are essential for these advanced systems. MTI Instruments, a global supplier of precision measurement solutions, is developing a new class of wireless and wired sensors to support digital connections for [...]
Capacitance Sensors: Three Things You Need to Know
Capacitance sensors are precision measurement tools for process automation, quality control, and tool automation control. They’re used in a many different industries and are suitable for virtually any application where accuracy is paramount. There’s a lot to know about capacitive sensors (as they’re sometimes called), but engineers need to start with three key questions. What are the parameters to specify when selecting a capacitance sensor? What are factors to consider when embedding a capacitive sensor in an industrial application? What is the future of capacitance-based measurement products? MTI Instruments has been providing U.S.-made capacitance sensor systems for over 50 [...]
Measuring Brake Rotor Thickness Variation with Capacitive Sensing
Brake rotor thickness variation, or disc thickness variation (DTV), causes uneven wear to brake rotors, disc-shaped automotive parts that are squeezed between brake pads to slow or stop a vehicle’s wheels. When a brake rotor has areas of different thickness, the amount of clamping force that’s applied across the rotor’s surface varies. These differences in clamping force lead to difference in torque, and the results may include brake shuddering, pulsating, or vibration. Even under normal driving conditions, brake rotors are subjected to extreme conditions that can cause performance-related issues. To ensure that brake rotors can perform properly without problems such [...]
Navy Orders Avionics Test and Measurement Systems
The U.S. Navy wants new avionics test and measurement systems. Under the terms of a $109-million award, the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division in Lakehurst, New Jersey will buy 41 electronic consolidated automated support systems (eCASS) from Lockheed Martin. This test and measurement equipment helps soldiers and Marines troubleshoot and repair aviation electronics while at sea. Avionics, the electronics used in aircraft, support essential navigation and communications functions. With military aircraft, avionics typically include electro-optical, infrared, and other types of sensors for airborne radar, weapons systems, and heads-up displays. Military avionics also need to support electronic warfare systems, [...]
Offshore Wind Supply Chain Uses MTI Capacitance Sensors
Capacitance sensors from MTI Instruments are an important part of the supply chain for offshore wind (OSW) in New York State. According to a recent report from the Center for Economic Growth (CEG), New York’s Capital Region is home to MTI Instruments and dozens of other manufacturers who support this growing form of wind power. The Capital Region also offers essential infrastructure for OSW. As the CEG report explains, the New York State Energy Research Development Authority (NYSERDA) has assessed 54 waterfront sites for OSW-related projects such as component staging, manufacturing, and fabrication. Two of the most promising sites [...]
Digital Accumeasure Gen 3 Reduces Noise and Increases Resolution
MTI Instruments is announcing a third-generation digital capacitance displacement gauge with lower noise and an industry-leading resolution. The Digital Accumeasure DSeries Gen 3 provides up to 0.01% FST linearity and is designed for measuring gap, vibration, and positioning. In both analog and digital systems, noise is an unwanted disturbance that distorts or interferes with a desired electrical signal. MTI’s Digital Accumeasure Gen 3 is a lower-noise amplifier than the Gen 2 and features sub-nanometer resolution for highly-precise measurements. Using state-of-the-art technology, the Digital Accumeasure DSeries Gen 3 converts a highly-reliable capacitive electric field measurement (displacement) directly into a highly-precise [...]
Measurements Using Capacitive Sensors
Capacitive sensors can be divided into two categories based upon their performance and intended use. High resolution sensors are typically used in displacement and position monitoring applications where high accuracy, stability and low temperature drift are required. Quite frequently these sensors are used in process monitoring and closed-loop feedback control systems. Proximity type capacitive sensors are much less expensive and are typically used to detect the presence of a part or used in counting applications. Applications Position Sensing General positioning is probably the most common application for capacitive sensors. As mentioned about, [...]
Measurement Applications
Measurement Applications Application Notes by Measurement Type Whatever our customers are trying to measure precisely, MTI Instruments has a tool. From getting accurate distances and thicknesses to precise vibration analysis, our measurement systems and tools are used by industry leaders around the world. Take a look at the measurement types below to see the variety of tools we have for various applications that help our customers.
Laser Thickness Gauge System Principles
Microtrak™ 3 TGS The Microtrak™ 3 TGS system is specifically designed for thickness applications utilizing two lasers. The product can be used in a standalone configuration or easily interfaced with PLCs and PCs. Each module contains an integral LCD display and keypad for setup and display of measurements. A USB serial port also allows control by a laptop computer. Basic PLC or control input/output is provided by discrete digital I/O lines or a Modbus® interface. Laser Triangulation Principle The Microtrak™ 3 TGS system uses the principle of laser triangulation to perform a one dimensional [...]








